I have a technical question on a GM Crate Engine that I purchased about a year ago. I’ve just got around to installing in a Camaro that I am restoring.

The car is not street worthy (no windows, no lights, no tag, etc.) at this point so I am unable to actually drive it anywhere for mechanical assistance.

The engine is a 350 HO Deluxe (330 HP) – P/N 12496968

The problem I am having is that I can’t get the timing to set where it needs to be – 10 degrees BTDC at 700 rpm.

The have tried setting the timing with the rotor pointing directly at the #1 cylinder (with piston at TDC) as well as 1 notch forward and 1 notch back.

It runs best directly pointed at #1 but I don’t have enough slack in the distributor (retard or gain) to get it to 10 degrees – the range I can make is 8 degrees after top dead center to 0 degrees (and 0 is reached with the vacuum canister on the distributor bumped against the intake manifold). The idle is rough and the engine sounds like its missing. I did drive it a short way down my street and it ran very sluggish.

I have replaced the distributor (HEI), plug wires, and plugs – none of these have helped the situation.

I am looking for technical insight on what else could cause the problem I have described.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Rocky Phillips